MILITARY CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAMS - VICTIMS OF NEGLECT

• NCJ Number: 63866
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 45 pages
• Corporate Author: US Government Accountability Office
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPORT BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

Annotation

EFFORTS OF THE MILITARY SERVICES TO DEAL WITH CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN MILITARY FAMILIES ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORT; RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) ARE EMPHASIZED.

Abstract

EACH MILITARY SERVICE HAS ESTABLISHED ITS OWN CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAM WITHOUT ANY OVERALL GUIDANCE FROM DOD. AS A RESULT, CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES HAVE INCONSISTENT POLICIES ON SUCH IMPORTANT ISSUES AS THE APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT OF SUCH PROGRAMS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF EACH SERVICE, DEFINITIONS ON THE AGE OF AN INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERED A CHILD, AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AT THE INSTALLATION LEVEL. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAMS RECEIVE NO DIRECT FUNDING AND THEREFORE SUFFER FROM A LACK OF ADEQUATE STAFF. CHILD MALTREATMENT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED TO OCCUR AS FREQUENTLY IN THE MILITARY AS IN CIVILIAN SOCIETY. DOD SHOULD DEVELOP, AND PROVIDE TO THE SERVICES GUIDELINES THAT WOULD BRING CONSISTENT POLICIES, ORGANIZATION, AND MANAGEMENT TO THE PROGRAMS AT THE INSTALLATION LEVEL. DOD SHOULD PLACE GREATER PRIORITY ON AND DIRECT MORE RESOURCES TO THESE PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS REVIEWED BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE HAD EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO DEAL WITH CHILD MALTREATMENT. HOWEVER, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE FOR PHYSICAL INJURIES, ALL PROGRAM ELEMENTS COULD BE IMPROVED GREATLY. IN THE AREA OF CHILD ADVOCACY EDUCATION, EMPHASIS IS NEEDED ON PROGRAMS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY COMMUNITY AIMED AT PREVENTING AND IDENTIFYING CHILD MALTREATMENT AND ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY PERSONS, SUCH AS THE MILITARY POLICE, WHO MAKE THE FIRST CONTACT REGARDING A SUSPECTED INCIDENT. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, DOD MUST ESTABLISH A SMALL, CENTRALIZED GROUP TO SERVE AS A FOCAL POINT FOR DEVELOPING UNIFORM CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE PRESENT MILITARY SERVICES' CHILD ABUSE REGISTRY MUST BE CENTRALIZED AND REPORTING EFFORTS IMPROVED. FOOTNOTES AND APPENDIXES ARE PROVIDED IN THE REPORT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LWM).